You might have heard about how movement is a catalyst for thought.
It is no coincidence that famous thinkers such as Nietzsche, Rousseau, Thoreau, Ghandi, and Kant all swore by the benefits of daily movement (taking walks) with regards to stimulating the mind.
Within my own life, I’ve been embarking upon daily bike rides. Ever since I introduced this habit into my routine, I have noticed a pronounced clarity of vision in terms of processing information.
This type of passive exercise is actually a form of meditation.
After you consume stimulating food for thought, the info churns about within the subconscious mind while the conscious mind draws immediate connections. As powerful as these ideas can be, many of the greater revelations lie below the surface. When you keep the conscious mind engaged with a relatively repetitive and passive physical activity, you allow the subconscious to reveal itself to you. After all, your mind operates as an equilibrial dichotomy.
It is foolish to force all of your brainpower into one compartment.
The subconscious mind is constantly processing information, and draws connections between other elements of internalized knowledge. Have you ever been plagued by a difficult mental challenge, only to find its answer while taking a break? This is similar to how great ideas come to us in the shower.
Conscious mind on auto-pilot. Grab a towel. Clothes off. Water on. Step inside. Lather on soap. LIGHTBULB.
Daily walks/bike rides enhance this natural process by giving the conscious mind more to work with, effectively forcing it into the background of your perception. You will be amazed by some of the obvious yet seemingly out of reach conclusions that the subconscious mind tends to draw.
This process has some meditative qualities, but it should not replace your time block dedicated to deeper reflective thought. The zen experienced during walks/bike rides works best as a supplement to real meditation.
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